CELEBRATING OUR RANCHING HISTORY

Stockmen’s Dinner

As the role of the Friends of The Bar U Historical Ranch Association is to support heritage education, programs and preservation at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, it became obvious that some form of fundraising event was necessary if the Association was to meet its mandate to provide improvements and support to the Ranch.

The Stockmen’s Dinner idea grew out of the CPR’s decision in 1993 to stop sponsoring the annual Rangemen’s Dinner in Calgary, which honoured the families who worked the southern Alberta range prior to 1900. The Friends of the Bar U picked up the torch and since its inception, the Stockmen’s Dinner has honoured ranch families from along the foothills of southern Alberta. The first Stockmen’s Dinner organized by the Friends of the Bar U was held on January 28, 2000 at the Heritage Inn in High River. The guest speaker was Leonard Friesen from Airdrie, and Jim Baker from Stavely was the M.C.

The second Stockmen’s Dinner was again held at the Heritage Inn in High River, and the guest speaker was Hugh McLennan from Penigan Lake, B.C. Mike McLean was the M.C. Honoured that night were 4 segments of the cattle industry: Veterinarians were represented by Dr. Don Moore, Auctioneers by Bruce Flewelling, Brand Inspectors by Wayne Daye, and Truckers by Alan Kemery.

With the success and popularity of the Stockmen’s Dinners, the Friends’ Board of Directors decided to make the event even more significant to our history, by honouring pioneer ranching families from the original boundaries of the Bar U Ranch: the Bow River south to the Oldman River, and west of Highway 2. With this in mind, a larger venue would be needed, which resulted in all subsequent dinners being held at the Highwood Memorial Centre in High River from 2002 onward.

The Annual Stockmen’s Dinner has continued to be a very popular and successful fundraising event for the Friends of the Bar U every year since then.

Through the years

Honoured Pioneer Families

Below, please find a complete and current list of our honoured families by year.

2002,Feb 22:
  • John Lineham
  • Senator Dan Riley: 1883
  • James Rodgers & Brother: David Glaister was the family rep (1885)
  • Harry Denning: 1888
  • William Holmes: 1886
  • Fred Ings: 1883 (from 2002)
  • James Robertson: 1881
  • R.A. (Richard) Wallace: 1883
  • Robert Findlay: 1884
  • Fred Burton: Claresholm
  • Frank Sibbald: Morley
  • Douglas Hardwick: 1883 Armada
  • William McDougall
  • Guy Pallister
  • John Sexsmith
  • George & John S. Blake
  • William Jackson, Millarville
  • George Lane: 1882 Pekisko
  • J.W. (Joe) Robertson: Kathy Robertson speaker, HR
  • James G. Bews: rep Mike McLean
  • Henry M. & Wyatt Brocklebank
  • Alfred E. Cross: Nanton, rep John Cross
  • William C. Gardner: Nanton, rep Cameron Gardner
  • Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Baines: HR
  • Mr. & Mrs. Gerard Fitzherbert: Longview, rep Johnny Fitzherbert
  • Mr. & Mrs. U.G. Hartwick
  • Mr. & Mrs. David Morrison: HR
  • Roderick & Laura Macleay: 1900, Nanton, rep Clay Chattaway – grandson
  • John & Margaret Stephenson: Meadowbank, rep Jeffery Stephenson
  • J.D. & May Leona Still: Rosemary Brocklebank spoke on behalf
  • Roderick & Laura Macleay: 1900, Nanton, rep Clay Chattaway – grandson
  • John & Margaret Stephenson: Meadowbank, rep Jeffery Stephenson
  • J.D. & May Leona Still: Rosemary Brocklebank spoke on behalf
  • Charles T. & Marion Sears: Nanton 1910, Larry Sears- great grandson- spoke
  • Frank & Christina Shier: Cayley, Kevin Shier spoke
  • Richard & Isabel Lynch-Staunton: Lundbreck, Hugh Lynch-Staunton
  • Alexander & Elsie Fleming : High River/Blackie, Tom Webb
  • Frank & Marjorie Swan: Bar U area/Turner Valley, Isobel Leman
  • Joseph B. & Mary Jane Comstock: Nanton/Stavely, Jean Comstock wrote it all up. Rosemary Brocklebank presented it.
  • The Burns Foundation – rep by John Burns (great grand-nephew)
  • Walter & Marie Davis – rep by Patrick Davis (works at Bar U)
  • Joseph & Elizabeth Herriman – rep by Helen Cyr who is Gerald Herrimans daughter
  • Einar & Edith (Brandham) Nelson: Lundbreck Judy & Einar presented
  • George & Verena Pharis; Lundbreck Leona Pharis presented
  • William & Nettie Rogers; High River. Gordie Rogers did the presentation.
  • Carlos & Mary Jane (Noble) Cowling: East Longview. Catherine Laycraft presented
  • Joseph & Elizabeth Fisher; Millarville. Russ Fisher presented
  • George & Minetta Mowat; Cowley. Bruce Mowat presented
  • Wilf & Maude Middleton – given by Wilf Middleton, Turner Valley
  • Angelo & DePaoli – Meadowbank area – presented very briefly by Angelo(Bill)
  • McEathren – Longview, Keith Hitchner gave presentation.
  • Faro & Rachel DePaoli – Don DePaoli presented
  • David & Mary Evans – Don Evans
  • McBee family – Joan DePass cancelled before Jan meeting
  • Hubert & Elizabeth (Duquenne) Delinte – Deb Loree
  • Denis & Merial (Griffin) Burke – Ron Burke
  • Fred Kosling – Monty Kendall
  • Sandy and Annie Robertson – Alex and Morgan Robertson, and Chris Brown rep.
  • Harry Sr. & Bessie Feist – Jeff Stephenson rep.
  • Bearspaw clan of the Stoney/ Nakoda, Eden Valley.– Chief Darcy Dixon rep.
  • James and Mary Chalmers – Don Chalmers presented
  • Brothers C.F.A. and J.E.M. Leeds – Doug Leeds presented
  • George and |Ann Jane Lyall – Carol Lyall presented
  • Frank Bedingfeld and Joshey Bedingfeld – Sarah Gardiner presented
  • Captain George Garstin, and Dorothy Garstin – Brian & Tamara Garstin & Addison Nolette
  • James Broomfield and Elizabeth Broomfield- Doug and Donny Broomfield presented
  • Alfred Joses and Elizabeth Dayment – Bern & Hanna Dayment presented
  • Gustave and Leonia Dingreville
  • Thomas and Mariah Jane Henning Adams/John William and Annie Jane McIntyre Paul – Gwen Blatz presented. (very long presentation)
  • James Sydney Wyatt Family – Jane Wyatt presented
  • James and Mary Daley Family – Mark Daley presented
  • Harry Inglis and Edna G. Thomson Family – Gary Thomson presented (Roy and Jean Thomson descendants)

Stockmen’s Dinner Gallery

Want to get involved?

We work to keep the spirit of the Bar U alive. As a registered non-profit organization, the Friends work to further public awareness and understanding of the site, and to protect it for the benefit, education and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Want to get involved?

We work to keep the spirit of the Bar U alive. As a registered non-profit organization, the Friends work to further public awareness and understanding of the site, and to protect it for the benefit, education and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Get tickets

Stockmen’s Dinner Fundraiser

Date: January 25th, 2025

If you would like to purchase tickets for this event, please fill out the form below and we will be in touch. 
Payment can be made via e-transfer to accounting@friendsofthebaru.com, or payment may be taken by phone by calling Kathy Nelson (403-395-3993) or Shelagh Weston (403-804-7118). If you prefer e-transfer, please indicate your full name/names of ticket holders in the e-transfer message.

DONATIONS

Support our not-for-profit

The Friends of the Bar U are stewards of the Bar U Ranch: promoting understanding of the history of ranching and demonstrating historical ranching practices. We thankfully accept denominations of any amount to further our mission and protect the legacy of the Bar U Ranch and what it represents.

Ways to give:

Calgary Foundation

Donations are accepted to the Friends of the Bar U Legacy Fund through the Calgary Foundation (QR code below)

Cash, Cheque, or E-transfer

E-transfer to:
accounting@friendsofthebaru.com

Cheques made payable to:
Friends of the Bar U Historic Ranch Association

P.O. Box 82

Longview, Alberta
T0L 1H0